|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Broncos83
Joined: 20 Aug 2009
Posts: 5
Location: Various
|
 Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:15 pm Post subject: Questions:Certification types/schools, country rules/customs |
 |
|
Hi everyone, I am new to the forum and would love to get your feedback and suggestions for some of my questions. My apologies if any of the questions are a little redundant but I have already done some browsing and will only ask what I�m really unsure of.
Quickly about me: I am a 26 year old college grad with a BS in Music with emphasis in music industry studies. I am Latino (I know race can be a factor in deciding where to teach). I am currently enrolled in an alternative certification program (ACP) which required 1 � months of rigorous instruction (class management, teaching strategies) and a month of student teaching in a classroom this summer. Due to the job market and a district hiring freeze, many participants in the program haven�t been hired � including me. So I have decided to look into going abroad.
First of all, I was recommended to check out Footprints from a friend in my ACP. I researched and was invited to a 30 minute interview but called prior to ask questions. It seems good, but I was told due to DWAI conviction 5+ years ago, Korea wouldn�t grant a visa. When I expressed interest in Japan, they told me only their students with seniority get those jobs. I know I can bypass a recruiter and land a job by other means, so I�m looking into getting TESOL or CELTA certified.
Before I joined the ACP, I had found Transworld Schools in SF. They offer a 4 week CTESOL course. I spoke with the director recently and she said that given my background it shouldn�t be hard whatsoever to land a job, especially if I get a certification to teach ESL. She also said it�s still possible but more difficult to teach in Korea. I�m also open to teaching in China, Philippines, Taiwan, etc.
So I guess my questions are:
1.) In my situation, given my countries of choice, is a TESOL good enough or is CELTA better? Should I pursue one over the other given my background and choice of countries?(I feel my ACP prepared me for class management, etc. in case I still do get a job as a 1st year teacher in the next week. I would just like the certification and the chance to be more prepared to teach ESL.)
2.) Is it still possible to go to Korea with a DWAI on record? Is Japan as strict as Korea when it comes to personal background? What about being Latino in these countries? I have read some posts from people who are black claiming that once schools found out their race, they lost interest due to the desire for white teachers.
3.) Is anyone a grad of or familiar with anything about Transworld Schools in SF? I have done research and they have pretty good reviews on Yelp. I�m just looking for more info. On their site, it says their comprehensive TESOL course is 140 classes, which, I was told when I called; consist of 140 hours of instruction and practice teaching.
I also am looking at other schools like St Giles in SF, which had a few negative reviews and BridgeTEFL. Both are pricey.
My apologies that this is a lot of information in one post. Anyhow, those are my preliminary questions and I continue to seek out advice suggestions, advice or anything you can offer. Thanks! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:57 pm Post subject: Re: Questions:Certification types/schools, country rules/cus |
|
|
| Broncos83 wrote: |
Hi everyone, I am new to the forum and would love to get your feedback and suggestions for some of my questions. My apologies if any of the questions are a little redundant but I have already done some browsing and will only ask what I�m really unsure of.
Quickly about me: I am a 26 year old college grad with a BS in Music with emphasis in music industry studies. I am Latino (I know race can be a factor in deciding where to teach). I am currently enrolled in an alternative certification program (ACP) which required 1 � months of rigorous instruction (class management, teaching strategies) and a month of student teaching in a classroom this summer. Due to the job market and a district hiring freeze, many participants in the program haven�t been hired � including me. So I have decided to look into going abroad.
First of all, I was recommended to check out Footprints from a friend in my ACP. I researched and was invited to a 30 minute interview but called prior to ask questions. It seems good, but I was told due to DWAI conviction 5+ years ago, Korea wouldn�t grant a visa. When I expressed interest in Japan, they told me only their students with seniority get those jobs. I know I can bypass a recruiter and land a job by other means, so I�m looking into getting TESOL or CELTA certified.
Before I joined the ACP, I had found Transworld Schools in SF. They offer a 4 week CTESOL course. I spoke with the director recently and she said that given my background it shouldn�t be hard whatsoever to land a job, especially if I get a certification to teach ESL. She also said it�s still possible but more difficult to teach in Korea. I�m also open to teaching in China, Philippines, Taiwan, etc.
So I guess my questions are:
1.) In my situation, given my countries of choice, is a TESOL good enough or is CELTA better? Should I pursue one over the other given my background and choice of countries?(I feel my ACP prepared me for class management, etc. in case I still do get a job as a 1st year teacher in the next week. I would just like the certification and the chance to be more prepared to teach ESL.)
2.) Is it still possible to go to Korea with a DWAI on record? Is Japan as strict as Korea when it comes to personal background? What about being Latino in these countries? I have read some posts from people who are black claiming that once schools found out their race, they lost interest due to the desire for white teachers.
3.) Is anyone a grad of or familiar with anything about Transworld Schools in SF? I have done research and they have pretty good reviews on Yelp. I�m just looking for more info. On their site, it says their comprehensive TESOL course is 140 classes, which, I was told when I called; consist of 140 hours of instruction and practice teaching.
I also am looking at other schools like St Giles in SF, which had a few negative reviews and BridgeTEFL. Both are pricey.
My apologies that this is a lot of information in one post. Anyhow, those are my preliminary questions and I continue to seek out advice suggestions, advice or anything you can offer. Thanks! |
Have you thought about getting certified in your home state (or another state) to teach ESL in the government indoctrination centers (public schools)?
The "industry standard" for the minimum entry-level certification to teach English as a foreign language is 100-120 course hours and at least six hours of supervised teaching practice with real ESL/EFL students. CELTA, Trinity and SIT are brand names (and you pay the brand name price for them) but there are some generic equivalents out there. Make sure that whatever course you take has that all-important supervised teaching practice with real ESL/EFL students.
Since you have a bachelor's degree already, perhaps you could consider getting a graduate certificate in TESL (or, if you wanted to teach ESL as a career, a master's degree in TESL or applied linguistics).
Being Latino might cause you some problems getting a job because in some countries they can't seem to get beyond the silly notion that only whites can be native English speakers. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Broncos83
Joined: 20 Aug 2009
Posts: 5
Location: Various
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject: Re: Questions:Certification types/schools, country rules/cus |
|
|
| Chancellor wrote: |
| Broncos83 wrote: |
Hi everyone, I am new to the forum and would love to get your feedback and suggestions for some of my questions. My apologies if any of the questions are a little redundant but I have already done some browsing and will only ask what I�m really unsure of.
Quickly about me: I am a 26 year old college grad with a BS in Music with emphasis in music industry studies. I am Latino (I know race can be a factor in deciding where to teach). I am currently enrolled in an alternative certification program (ACP) which required 1 � months of rigorous instruction (class management, teaching strategies) and a month of student teaching in a classroom this summer. Due to the job market and a district hiring freeze, many participants in the program haven�t been hired � including me. So I have decided to look into going abroad.
First of all, I was recommended to check out Footprints from a friend in my ACP. I researched and was invited to a 30 minute interview but called prior to ask questions. It seems good, but I was told due to DWAI conviction 5+ years ago, Korea wouldn�t grant a visa. When I expressed interest in Japan, they told me only their students with seniority get those jobs. I know I can bypass a recruiter and land a job by other means, so I�m looking into getting TESOL or CELTA certified.
Before I joined the ACP, I had found Transworld Schools in SF. They offer a 4 week CTESOL course. I spoke with the director recently and she said that given my background it shouldn�t be hard whatsoever to land a job, especially if I get a certification to teach ESL. She also said it�s still possible but more difficult to teach in Korea. I�m also open to teaching in China, Philippines, Taiwan, etc.
So I guess my questions are:
1.) In my situation, given my countries of choice, is a TESOL good enough or is CELTA better? Should I pursue one over the other given my background and choice of countries?(I feel my ACP prepared me for class management, etc. in case I still do get a job as a 1st year teacher in the next week. I would just like the certification and the chance to be more prepared to teach ESL.)
2.) Is it still possible to go to Korea with a DWAI on record? Is Japan as strict as Korea when it comes to personal background? What about being Latino in these countries? I have read some posts from people who are black claiming that once schools found out their race, they lost interest due to the desire for white teachers.
3.) Is anyone a grad of or familiar with anything about Transworld Schools in SF? I have done research and they have pretty good reviews on Yelp. I�m just looking for more info. On their site, it says their comprehensive TESOL course is 140 classes, which, I was told when I called; consist of 140 hours of instruction and practice teaching.
I also am looking at other schools like St Giles in SF, which had a few negative reviews and BridgeTEFL. Both are pricey.
My apologies that this is a lot of information in one post. Anyhow, those are my preliminary questions and I continue to seek out advice suggestions, advice or anything you can offer. Thanks! |
Have you thought about getting certified in your home state (or another state) to teach ESL in the government indoctrination centers (public schools)?
The "industry standard" for the minimum entry-level certification to teach English as a foreign language is 100-120 course hours and at least six hours of supervised teaching practice with real ESL/EFL students. CELTA, Trinity and SIT are brand names (and you pay the brand name price for them) but there are some generic equivalents out there. Make sure that whatever course you take has that all-important supervised teaching practice with real ESL/EFL students.
Since you have a bachelor's degree already, perhaps you could consider getting a graduate certificate in TESL (or, if you wanted to teach ESL as a career, a master's degree in TESL or applied linguistics).
Being Latino might cause you some problems getting a job because in some countries they can't seem to get beyond the silly notion that only whites can be native English speakers. |
Thank you very much for your response. So, my alternative certification program (ACP), that I may continue in next year if I don't get a job in a school soon, will eventually lead me to a standard certification to teach ESL or other subjects grades 4-8 in public schools. I figure since I'm already in the ACP and went through the training, I may as well stick with this ACP next year(or later if I go abroad) rather than find another program that does basically the same thing. That being said, I believe obtaining a TESOL or CELTA plus experience teaching abroad will make me stand out in next years cohort in my ACP.
I have heard about the 100-120 hour industry standard for ESL certification and I am sure Transworld offers that for me, including classroom experience teaching real ELL's. They are also "Approved by the State of California and Accredited by ACCET", according to their website.
I also am considering going to get graduates credits or a Master's in TESL, however family members advised me to get the teaching experience first to be sure I enjoy it. Considering how much getting a Master's costs these days, I'd like to be positive that it is what I want. I have found a few colleges that have attractive programs for that.
Lastly, I agree that many countries may have a misconception that whites are the best native English speakers and therefore make the best English teachers. However, I don't mind challenging that stereotype and showing others what I am capable of. I am well-traveled and have visited China, Thailand and Cambodia before and even though that was a while back when I was in my late teens, I felt respected and welcomed.
Thank you again for your reply and to anyone else reading this, please chime in if you have anything to add! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:15 pm Post subject: Re: Questions:Certification types/schools, country rules/cus |
|
|
| Broncos83 wrote: |
| First of all, I was recommended to check out Footprints from a friend in my ACP. I researched and was invited to a 30 minute interview but called prior to ask questions. It seems good, but I was told due to DWAI conviction 5+ years ago, Korea wouldn�t grant a visa. When I expressed interest in Japan, they told me only their students with seniority get those jobs. |
Dump your friends who trust Footprint, or dump Footprint. That information about Japan is totally false. In fact, I don't even know what it means to say "seniority".
In Japan, you are completely qualified right now to teach entry level. That means in conversation schools or as an ALT through a dispatch agency or the JET Programme. All that is needed is a generic bachelor's degree. Come to the Japan forum and learn more.
| Quote: |
| I know I can bypass a recruiter and land a job by other means, so I�m looking into getting TESOL or CELTA certified. |
Lose the recruiters for Japan. You don't need them. You actually may not even need certification, but come to the forum and you'll get more info from others like me who have been in Japan for a decade. Realize that the market is glutted with teachers right now, though.
1.) In my situation, given my countries of choice, is a TESOL good enough or is CELTA better? Should I pursue one over the other given my background and choice of countries?
Neither is better for most entry level jobs in Japan. Certification is not usually needed to land that first job anyway. With the flooded market, however, it may not hurt to get some certs.
2.) Is it still possible to go to Korea with a DWAI on record? Is Japan as strict as Korea when it comes to personal background? What about being Latino in these countries?
The conviction is 5 years old. I don't think you'll have a problem in Japan. It's only a drunk driving offense anyway, not a felony, right?
Latinos, Blacks, Asians, Whites, etc. all get teaching jobs here. Don't even discuss your heritage to interviewers. You're American or Canadian or British, etc. and therefore a native English speaker. If someone actually stoops low enough to ask about your heritage (perhaps based on your name or looks), tell them you are a native born English speaker and that your country has a plethora of ethnic groups (unlike Japan). |
|
| Back to top |
| |
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
